Donald Trump has made clear he wants to make Canada America's 51st state. The two countries are locked in a trade war with Canada unveiling retaliatory tariffs against Donald Trump's own. The outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Mr. Trump of trying to crater the Canadian economy because it would make it easier to annex the place. Mark Carney, his successor, has said he will talk to Mr. Trump, but only if there is 'respect for sovereignty.' 90% of Canadians say they would oppose American annexation under any circumstances, but not everyone shares that view. Telegraph foreign correspondent Memphis Barker has been meeting the Canadians who think becoming the 51st US state is not such a bad idea.

Plus: Thomas Wright, a strategic and national security advisor in the Biden White House, talks to Roland Oliphant about Trump's approach to handling Russia and China, and whether there are more points of continuity between the Biden administration and the Trump administration than at first seems.

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On this Bonus episode, Roland Oliphant speaks with Reza Pahlavi, the son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979. The Crown Prince has lived in exile ever since, but he now believes the regime could be heading for collapse and is positioning himself as the potential figurehead of a democratic transition. We asked him why he thinks Iran is headed for a revolution like the one that overthrew his father, why he believes he could lead such a change, and what he thinks Western governments should do in this delicate moment in Iranian history.

This episode is part of a new series of regular bonus material that Battle Lines will be releasing every month. From extended interviews with key political and defence figures to deep dives into the state of the world's biggest militaries, all you need to do to hear these episodes as soon as they're released is subscribe to The Telegraph and link your subscription in Apple Podcasts. For more information, click here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact-us/telegraph-subscription-bonus-content-apple-podcasts/

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'Iran’s Crown Prince: My country is on the brink of a revolution like that of 1979' by Roland Oliphant:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/23/crown-prince-reza-pahlavi-iran-on-the-brink-of-revolution/

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battlelines@telegraph.co.uk

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As Iran carries out military drills with Russia and China, Venetia Rainey chats to Telegraph reporter Akhtar Makoii about the country's attempts to build up its army with new weapons and new capabilities. They also discuss Iran's renewed attempts to strike a nuclear deal, and why Donald Trump's threatening letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei might backfire.

Plus: The war in Sudan continues to rage with no sign of resolution. The Telegraph's global health reporter Lilia Sebouai and photographer Simon Townsley gained rare access to Sudan's Nuba Mountains. They tell Roland Oliphant the stories they heard first-hand, including the way mass rape is being used as a weapon of war by the Rapid Support Forces.

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'Iran unveils new ‘stealth fighter’ drone for bombing and reconnaissance' by Akhtar Makoii:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/04/iran-unveil-stealth-fighter-drone/

'Putin agrees to help Trump start direct talks with Iran' by Akhtar Makoii:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/04/putin-agrees-help-trump-direct-talks-with-iran/

'Dispatch: Children reduced to skin and bones in war-torn Sudan’s forgotten famine' by Lilia Sebouai and Simon Townsley:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/sudan-war-famine-nuba-malnutrition-starvation-conflict/

Children as young as four among victims of gang-rape and ethnic cleansing in war-torn Sudan by Lilia Sebouai and Simon Townsley:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/child-victims-of-gang-rape-and-ethnic-cleansing-sudan-war/

Contact us with feedback or ideas

battlelines@telegraph.co.uk

@venetiarainey

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